Electric soldering-iron



PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. I. AYER.

ELECTRIC SOLDERING IRON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented january 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES I. AYER, OF CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SIM- PLEX ELECTRIC HEATING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SOLDERlNG-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,571, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed'November 13, 1902. Serial No. 131,106. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES I. AYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridgeport, county of Mi'ddlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Soldering-Irons, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

[0 My invention is an improvement in electrically-heated soldering-irons, and has for its object the provision of an inexpensive and easily-provided soldering-tip, together with simple and convenient mechanism for retaining it in proper adjustment and efficient electrical contact.

In telephone and other work it is frequently necessary to use a soldering-iron in an intricate nest of wires, and for that reason the tip should have a small point and, in fact, the entire soldering-iron should be as small as possible to give ready access to difficult places, and accordingly, besides the features pointed out above, I have devised a construction afiording a slim soldering point or tip and means for securing it in intimate contact with the source of heat.

Further advantages and details of construction will be pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one form of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective a preferred embodiment of my inven- 3 5 tion. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation thereof, parts being broken away for clearness of description and illustration; and Fig. 3 is a left-hand end viewthereof, the tip being omitted.

The general construction of the body portion of the soldering-iron. may be of any usual or preferred form, being herein shown as comprising a rear end a, core I), coil d fed by conducting-wires d d, and jacket f, all substantially as shown in my copending application,

Serial No. 96,795.

The usual kind of soldering-tip has a pyramidal chunked shape of approximately the size in diameter of the main part of the soldering-iron, and this is heavy, expensive in construction and material, and clumsy in use and appearance. AccordinglyI have devised the herein-described construction, in which the tip itself consists simply of a rod-shaped and preferablycylindrical piece 25, of copper 5 5 or other suitable material,which is secured in place by suitable means insuring close direct contact with the holder. This special form of tip 6 permits the tip to be long, if desired, and affords ready access, therefore, in intricats and difficult places, the tip being shaped like a pencil, so that it can be inserted in small openings and worked to advantage where the usual form of tip could not be used. It may be secured in placein many difo5 ferent ways; but I prefer for a number of reasons, as will be explained, to provide a special form of clamp, comprising a plurality of slightly yielding and preferably tapered prongs 19 which extend integrally from the core I). In making this construction the core is cast in one piece and turned down into the proper external shape, and then a socket b is bored in the end to receive the tip t and is thereafter slitted in a plurality of places, four thereof being herein indicated at b to provide the plurality of fingers or grippingprongs I) desired. These externally-tapered prongs b are threaded at their base, as indicated at b and a conically-shaped sleeve 6 preferably having its outer end tapered on its inner surface, as indicated at b is provided to fit said threaded part 12 said sleeve 1) being herein shown as provided with openings 11 to receive a usual spanner-wrench for tightening the same and effecting the clamping of the tip in place. This construction gives excellent contact, inasmuch as the fingers b are thereby brought into direct compression along a considerable extent of sur- 9o face of the tip, so that there is a long tight joint, which can be quickly brought down to 7 any degree of tightness required. The sleeve or nut being of steel or iron afiords slow conduction of heat, or, in other words, does not 5 tend to divert the heat, but rather facilitates the passage of the heat directly from the core I) to the tipt. The tight joint, which is formed by the cooperating tapered surfaces of the sleeve and fingers compressed against the tip, and the shape of the sleeve and core prevents any acid from the soldering getting into the heating mechanism.

This construction and the shape of the tip cuts down the mass of metal required to be heated at the point, permits the use of a round rod, enables the tips to be replaced Without serious Waste of copper, and the tips may be cheaply made simply by cutting off pieces of heavy Wire or rod and slightly shaping them.

While this invention is especially useful for small Work in close places, it is a valuable improvement in electric soldering-irons of all sizes, because the feature of cheaper tips, the reduction of surface of the free-heat-conducting copper, and the protection of the heater from acid by the interposition of a number of joints along the direction acid must travel to reach the heater cheapens the cost of tips, increases the efficiency of the tool, and renders the device more durable.

Without attempting to point out all the advantages of my invention or mentioning the various changes and substitutions in form and arrangement of parts that may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention, What I claim is as follows:

1. An electric soldering device,comprising a holder provided with heating mechanism, said holder having at its outer end a socket with closed bottom, a tip having a sliding fit in said socket and adapted to contact With the entire length of the socket, said socket contacting With the entire periphery of said tip throughout the length of the socket, and clamping means operating over the length of said socket for holding the walls of the socket under pressure against the tip throughout the aforesaid entire contacting area.

2. An electric soldering device,comprising a holder including a core, a tip, external engaging means constituting a socket bearing 011 the sides of said tip, and a compressionclamp for retaining said engaging means and tip in contact, said core and said external means being integral with each other, and said tip contacting with said engaging means throughout the entire length of said socket.

3. An electric soldering device,comprising a holder provided with heating mechanism, said holder being provided with a socket at its outer end having a closed bottom, a tip having a sliding fit in said socket and adapted to contact with the entire length of the socket, and fastening means for pressing the Walls of said socket against the tip on all sides of the latter.

4. An electric soldering device,comprising a holder including a core, a tip, external engaging means for bearing on the sides of said tip, and a clamp for retaining said engaging means and tip in contact, said core and said external engaging means being integral With each other and formed of highly-conductive material for transmittinga maximum amount of heat directly to said tip.

5. An electric soldering device,comprising a holder including a core, a tip, engaging means for contacting with said tip over a considerable area thereof, said core and engaging means being integral and composed of material capable of free transmission of heat, and a clamping device for holding said tip and engaging means in contact, said clamping device being composed of material incapable of free-heat transmission.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J AS. I. AYER.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH M. CONLIN, DORA A. PROCTOR. 

